bissell



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. H. BISSELL AUTOMATIC VARIABLE TIMING SWITCH Filed Aug. 25. 1926 Il vVENToR. 2v/575( ATTORNEYS..

- Fe154, l1930.

Feb-4, 19.30- c. H. Brest-11.

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE TIMING SWITCH 5 She-ets-Sheet INI/ENTOR. M

Filed Aug. 25, 1926 Feb. 4, 1930. c. H. alssELL 1,745,975

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE TIMING SWITCH Filed Aug. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 e MQW? l INVEINTOR.

A TTORNE YS".

Feb.

c. H. BlssELL. v1,745,975

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE TIMING SWITCH .Filed Aug. 25. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

TTORNEYS.

Feb. 4, 1930. C, H, BlssELL AUTOMATIC VARIABLE TIMING- SWITCH Filed Aug. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet `5 Inl S l I I INIA/NMR .ATRA/EYS.

Patented Feb. 4, 1930 PATENT OFFICE- CABL H. BISSELL, F SYEACUSE NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB T0 OROUSE-HDTDS COMPANY,

0F BYRACUBE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK AUTOMATIC VARIABLE TLLING SWITCH Appiicamn mea august as, 192e. seran' no. 131,470.

This invention relates to automatic timing switches for timing the operation of signals as traffic signals at street intersections and has for its object a switch unit which is particularly simple and compact in construction, readily adjustable to traic cycles of various durations and to time the signals. Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel features 1o and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set orthand claimed.

Inl describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts l in all the views.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of. this switch unit.

Figures 2 and 3 are opposite end elevations. i

Figure4 is a view of the face plate of the switch` unit.

Figure 5 is a detached view of the adjustable connection between the driving member for theswit'ch and the driven member or shaft of the switch.4 Y

Figure 6 is a detached view of the adjusting mechanism for determining the speed of the'motor or adjusting the motor to traic cycles of various durations.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic'view of one type of signals for the operatlon of which this switch is designed. Y

' This switch is particularly desi edfor tralic si nals in which sets of signa s similar to that s iown in Figure 7 are presented in opposite directions on streets running north and south and in opposite directions on an intersecting east and weststreet, the go Vor green signals being shown north and south while the stop or red signals are presented east and west and the stop or red signals be ing present north and southl when the go or green signals are presented east and west.

The amber or yellow-si nal is-presented to. denote that the signal is a out to change from red to green or from greento red. -These amber signals are illuminated sometimes after the red and green signals are out but oftentimes, it is desired to have the amberlight 5 overlap the red and green signals or be on for a short period prior to the time that the l red or the green s1 al is `about to change. The adjustment of t e switch to regulate this overlapping of the amber light with the red and green signals is one of the features of this invention.

This switch unit for timing the signals and regulatin the extent of time they will be illuminate or on, comprises generally a support including a base and a face plate, a timing switch mounted on the base and including a movable member las a cam shaft and -cams operated thereby and oscillating-con tact' carrying members having followers coacting with thecam means as a motor mount# ed o n the base and connected to the movable switch member or shaft to actuate it, con-nect-ions between the motor and the switch member, means for adjusting the switch so as to vary the length of time .of its intermittent operations, that is adjusting the motor to traliic cyclesA of various durations, that is, adjusting the speed of the motor, and means. for shiftin said connections relatively to thel motor or river whereby the timing of the switchl is varied, both of said operating means having handles. on the face plate coacting with corresponding dials on the face plate. Some of the foregomg features may however be omitted. By tralic cycle is m ant the time required to have the go signa s on a predetermined time plus the time the stop signals are on'. For example, the go signals in one direction as north and s outh for sixty secondsl and the stop signals for fifty seconds while the go signals east and west will be set for fifty seconds and stop signals for sixty sec- I onds, the trafiic cycle is one hundred and ten seconds. The time the amber light '1s on is not considered. It may be on about' tive seconds and may or may not lap the stop and go signals. Y

l designates the base and 2 the face plate, these together -with the switch mechanism being in sertable in and removable -from a casingr or box open at one side, the face plate 2 forming the cover of the box and being secured in position `by screws passing through holes 3 inthe corners 4of the face plate.

the construction and o eration of a disk mo tor is well known, urther description is thought to be unnecessary.

The means for adjusting the speed of the motor or adjusting it to traiiic cycles of various durations is a magnetic brake for acting on the disk and means for adjusting the osition of the magnet so that its field will e more or less efective on the disk.

9 designates theb'rake which is' a permanent magnet of the general horse-shoe shape, this magnet being mounted on a rock shaft 10 journalled in suitable bearings 11 mounted on the base, the rock shaft being located outside of a vertical plane tangent to the disk so that the magnet 9 swings toward and from the axis of the disk when the shaft is rocked. The magnet when away from the disk exerts no braking effect and exerts greatest braking effect when its poles'are completely on opposite sides of the disk or completely Within the circle of the disk as will be understood by those skilled inthe art.

The rock shaft 10 is o erated by a lever 12 mounted on -arock s aft 13 extending -through the faceplate and having a bevel gear 14 at its inner end meshing with a bevel gear 1.5 on the shaft 410. .This lever l2 has a .pointer 16 movable overl a gage or dial 17 on `the face ofthe plate, this dial having graduations denoting the time of different trailic cycles from 60 to 120 seconds. For a 60 second cycle, the brake is adj ustedto exert a minl inium braking effect and for a longer c cle,

the brake is adjusted to exert more bra ing effect in accordance with the. greatec cycle, a cycle of 120 requiring greatest braking effect.

The lever 12 is provided with a screw hav- -l ing a knobor knurled handle 18 which when tightened, clamps the lever against the dial plate17, the-shank of the screw threading into a nut or clamping member 19 behind the dial plate 17.

A l A The cam shaft20of the switch itself is mounted .on suitable -uprights 21 on the base controlling the north and south and t 1e red lights on the eastl 'and has three cams 22,23, 24 thereon, one cam reen lights presented i and west street, and the other cam 23 controlling the red lights presented north and south and the green lights on the east and 4west-street. and the third cam controllingethe amber'or yellow light. This third cam 24 is formed. in sections adjustably mounted on the shaft 20 to regulate the extent of time the amber light is'to be on. Thesections of the cam 24 controlling the amber light are adjustably keyed to the shaft b set screws as 25. The cam shaft is rocke by a rotating driving shaft.

It will be obvious that by adjusting these cam sections so that thei-r valleys or low points will be of greater or less extent will determine the time the amber lights are on as the lights are on while the follower of the mercury switch contact member to be presently described is traveling in the valley of the cam 24.

The switch contact members 26, 27 and 28 have followers coacting with the cams 22, 23, 24. These members 26, 27, 28 are pivoted at like ends on a rod 2 9 carried by the uprights 21 and have followers 30, 31, 32 between theirends coacting with the cam and rest at their other ends on a rod 34 carried by the uprights 2 1. The switch contact members 26, 27 and 28 tilt about their pivots during the rocking of thc contact members by their cams. These switch contact members are oscillating mercury switches and each includes a glass tube 35 mounted in terminal pieces which are carriedby a block 36 of insulation. This block of insulation is connected to the follower by an upwardly extending arm 37 on each member 26, 2 7 or 28. There is a contact at each end of the tube 35 and wires 38 and 39 connect the contacts Arespectively to binding devices 40 and 41 on a terminal support 42. During the tilting of the switch contact member, the mercury 43 in the tube makes and breaks the electrical connection between the terminals. As the operation of tilting mercuryswitches is well known, further description is thought to be unnecessary.

The terminal support 42 is mounted on uprights 4.2a rising from the base l'between the motor and the switch. The various terminals on this yterminal supportare connected by suitable wires in the-.light or signal circuits and these wires are connected to terminals in a binding device 45 on the front of the switch so that the wires can be led to the sig.- nals from the binding device. TheA various wire terminals are suitably designated on the binding device.

The motion transmitting mechanism or connections between the motor and the cam shaft 20 in addition to motion transmitting mechanism within the casing 7 inclu-des a shaft 50 extending outside of the casing 7 and having an eccentric pin as a crank pin 51 izo hence, the timing of the cam is varied by changing the time at which the shaft reverses its motion relatively to the crank pin or changing the radial position of said part relatively to the crank pin and the connecting rod.l

In the illustratedembodiment of my invention, theshiftable motion transmitting part is a lever 52 pivoted between its ends to a shiftable support 53 and having a segment 54 meshing with a pinion 55 on the shaft 20 and being connected at its other end at 56 to a connecting rod 57 which connecting rod is mounted on the crank pin 51. The support 53 is shown as a lever pivoted at 58 between its ends, and the means for shifting the support on its pivot to vary the timing of the cams is here shown. as aprockshaft 59 mounted in a be-a'rinFgpGO formed in one of the uprights 21 supporting the shaft 2O and having a pinion 61 at its innerl end meshing with gear teeth 62 on, the lower end of the support or lever 53. The shaft extends through the face plate and has a lever 63 at its outer end formed with a handle or knob 64, the lever having radial spaced apart gages or straight edges 66 movable over adial 67 on a gage plate 68. The dial vis graduated in concentric rows. for currents of diferent cycles and each row is graduated radial and the radial graduations thereof represent different periods of time as seconds. Different street intersections require a different timing ofsignals. For instance, at one intersection, it might be desirable to have the green or go signals facing north and south on a longer period than the go signals on the intersecting east and west street and the stop signals complementally timed. The dial is graduated to be adjustable to any standard set of conditions. Assuming a total traiiic cycle of 100 seconds, it may be desirable to have the north and south green lights illuminated 40 seconds and the east and west stop signals 60 seconds. The lever is then operated to bring the gage in line with the graduation for .the number 40 on the left side of the age plate in the 100 second circle and the reading in the same circle along the edge of the other gage indicates the number of secondslthe other lamp signal will be illuminated. By adjusting the handle and reading along the proper circle, almost any combination of time periods can be found. The lever 63 is formed with a knob or handle64' which has a screw threaded'shank 71 extending below the lower edge of the circular plate and threading into a nut or clamping member 72 on the rear side of the plate.

Also, in case it is desirable tol have the intermediate amber lamp signal overlap the green and red signals, the overlapping or the amount of overlapping is effected by an adjustable lost motion connection between the shaft 20 and the cams 22, 23.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the cams 22, 23 are mounted on collars 73 on the shaft and are keyed to such collars and these collars are connected by a yoke 74 having arms 75, 76 extending cross wise of the shaft and the lost motion is provided between these arms 75, 76 and parallel arms 77, 78 provided on a collar 79 which is keyed to the shaft 20. Set screws 80 thread through the arms 77 78 of the collar 79 toward the arms 75, 76. The amount of space between the ends of the set screws and the arms 75, 76 determines the amount of lost motion between the shaft 20 and the cams 22, 23 andhence determines the amount ofoverlap of the amber lamp on the red and green light interval as 4 ghe amber light cam 24 is keyed to the shaft In operation, after the proper connections have been made to the binding device 40, the speedof the motor is adjusted or the motor 'adjusted to the particular tralic cycle by moving the arm or lever 2() so that its pointer 16 points to the graduation indicating the proper time on the gaging plate 17.

The extent of the timing at which the green lights'are illuminated on north and south streets with respect to the red lights on the east and west streets is timed by moving the handle 64 over the plate and thus varying the time of oscillation of the shaft 20 relative to the rotation of the driving shaft 50.

What I claim is y 1. In a timing switch of the class described. the combination of a support including a base and a lface plate, a timing switch mountedon the base, a motor mounted on the base, motion transmitting connections between the motor and the timing switch to automatically operate the timing switch, said connections including members by which the 'timing is varied, means for adjusting the speed of the motor andmeans for shifting said members whereby the timing of the switch is varied, handles mountedon the base plate and con-4 nectlons between the handles and the motor adjustmg means and the means for shifting sald adJustable members respectively for Vtransferring the motion of the handles thereto. j

2. Ina timing switch of the class described, the combination of a timing switch, movable' means for actuating the timing switch comprising a rotatable driving member movable about an axis, an oscillating motion transmit ting part, and connections between the drivlng member and the said part for ,transferring the rotary motion of the driving-memberjto the oscillating driven part, said .connectionsy comprising manually .operable means to shift the oscillating timing switch relatively to the rotary driving member by which the radial position ef the oscillating* part relatively to the D varied.

`driving member is 1 3. In a'timing switch of the class described, the combination of a support, an oscillating timing switch member, a rotatable driving member yfor the switch member having an eccentric pin, connections between the eccentric pin and the oscillating member comprising a connecting rod and means for adjusting I the switch member about its axis relatively to the connecting rod and the eccentric pin.

4. In a timing switch of the class described, the combination of a support, an oscillating timing switch member movable about lan axis, a rotatable driving member having an eccentric pin, connections between the eccentric pin and the oscillating switch member comprising a. connecting rod and means for adjusting the switch member aboutits axis relatively to the connecting rod and the eccentric pin, said means comprising a `handle fixed with respect to the movement of the switch member and the connecting rod.

5. In a timing switch of the class described,

the cmbination of a support, an oscillating" membery m'ovable about an axis, a driving member having an eccentric in, connections between the,` eccentric pin,` an the oscillatin member comprising a connecting rod an means for adjusting the oscillatlngf switch member about its axis relatively to the connecting rod and the'eccentric pin, said means comprising a stationary support and a mol tion transmitting part connected to the supa switch member movable about an axis, an

actuator having' anv eccentric pin, apivoted support, a motion transmittin member movb e about an axis carried by t e supportand connected to the switch member to transmit motion thereto and a connecting rod between the eccentric pin and said lever and a handle connected to thesupport to shift it and shift the motion transmitting member about the axis of the point`ofv connection between the connecting rod and said member.

8. In a timing switch of the class described, a switch member movable about an axis, an actuator having an eccentric pin, a shiftable` support, a motion transmitting lever pivoted to the support and connected to the switch member to transmit motion thereto, a connecting rod between the eccentric pin and said lever. v y y,

9. Ina timing switch of the class described, a switch memberv movable about anaxis, an

actuator having an eccentric pin, a' movable support, a motion transmitting lever pivoted to the support and connected to the switch member to transmit motion thereto, a con-- necting rod between the eccentric pin and said lever and a. means connected tothe support to shift the same and hold it in its shifted position.

10. In a timing switch of the class described, a switch member, a rotatable actuator both movable about an axis, the actuator havingy an eccentric pin, a support comprising a support pivoted between its ends, a lever pivoted between its ends to one arm of the support and having a, segment at one end, a connecting rod connecting the eccentric pin the segment meshes and a means connected to the pivoted support to normally hold it from Vmovement about its axis.

11. In a timing switch of the class deand the other endof the segment lever, the switch member having a pinion with which scribed, a switch member a rotatable actuahaving an eccentric pin, a support comprising a-lever pivoted betweenits ends, a lever Vpivoted .between its ends to one arm ofthe support and having a segment at one end, a connecting rod connecting the eccentric pin and the other end of the segment lever, the

the segment meshes and means connected to the axis of the switch member.

tor both movable about an axis, the actuator switch member having a pinion with which the pivoted support-to normally hold it from movement about ,its axis, the supporting lever being arranged with 13.l The combination of driving and driven I member, both movable about an axis, the

driving member having a crank pin, a support pivoted between its ends on anaxis coinf cident with that of the driven member and being ad'ustable about its axis, means for holding t e support in its adjusted position, a motion transmitting lever pivoted between its ends to the support` and connected at'one end tothe driven member .and a connecting rod connecting the crank pin and the other end ofthe lever. y

14. In a timing switch, the combination of arotatable shaft having a plurality of timing cams thereon, one of the cams being keyed to the shaft to rotate'therewithand the other` being connected to the shaft by a lost motion' and signals operated respectively by the cams.

15. In a timing switch, the combination o a rotatable shaft having a plurality of timing cams thereon, one of the cams being keyed to the shaft to rotate therewith and the other being connected to the shaft by a lost motion connection, said connections comprising a member rotatable with the cam, and a member rotatable with the shaft, said members being spaced apart and adjustable means'between the members to determine the amount of the spacing between said members and signals operated respectively by the cams.

16. In a timing switch, the combinationof a rotatable shaft having a plurality of timing cams thereon, one of the cams being keyed to the shaft to rotate therewith and the other being connected to the shaft by lost motion connections, said connections comprising a member rotatable with the cam and a member rotatable with the shaft, said members having arms extending crosswise of the shaft on opposite sides thereof and the arms being spaced apart and set screws' threading through the arms of one member toward the other member `and signals* operated respectively by the cams.

17. In a timing switch, 'of the class described, the combination of a support including a base and a face plate, a motor mounted on the support, a switch including a rotatable shaft and timing cams mounted on the shaft, adjustable connections between the motor and the shaft, means including a handle movable over the face plate for adusting the speed of the motor and means including a handle mounted on the-face plate for adjusting the connections between the motor and the shaft, movable Contact carrying switch members mounted above the shaft in position to coact with the cams thereon, a terminal support on the base between the motor and the switch, a binding device for the circuits on the face ofthe board, wires connecting the binding device and the terminals, and wires connecting the terminals and the contacts of the switch members and signals operated respectively by the cams.

18. A switching mechanism comprising a motor, a plurality of switches, switch operating means driven by said motor for opening and closing said switches 1n a predetermined desired sequence and common adjusting means included in said switch operating means for varying the time relatlon or operation ybetween some of said switches and simultaneously with such adjustment varying the relative time of the operation of another of said switches to maintain the desired sequence of operation., said adjusting means 4comprising a handle for operating the common adjusting means and a graduated dial yfor indicating the adjustment aii'ected by the handle.

19. VA switchin mechanism comprising a motor, three switc es, switchr operating means driven by said motor for'openlng and closing said switches in a predetermined desired sequence, one switch being opened and closed twice for each openin and closing of the other two' switches and common means for adjusting the time relation between the operation of the last mentioned switches and simultaneously adjusting the time of operationof said rst mentioned switch to maintain the desired sequence of operation, a handle for said common adjusting means and a graduated dial with which thehandle coacts for indicating the position of the adjustment of the switches.

20. A switchin `mechanism comprising a Iframe having a ace plate, a motor, a plurality of switches, switch operating means driven by the motor for opening and closing said switches in-a predetermined desired sequence, all mounted on the frame and common adjusting means included in said switch operating means for varying the time relationy of operation between some of said switches and simultaneously with such adjustment varying the relative time of operation of another of said switches to maintain the desired sequence of operation, the ad'usting means including a handle mounted adjacent the face plate an a graduated dial coacting with the handle and mounted adjacent the face plate in juxtaposition to the handle to indicate the adjusted position of the switches.

21. A switching mechanism comprising a motor, a plurality of switches, switch operating means driven by said motor for opening and closing said switches in a predetermined desired sequence and common adjusting means included in said switch operating means for varying the time relation or operation between some of said switches and simultaneously with such adjustment varying the relative time of the operation of another of said switches to maintain the desired sequence of operation and means for indicating the adjusted position of the adjusting means. l

22. A switching mechanism comprising a motor, three switches, switch o erating means driven by said motor for opening and closing said switches in a predetermined desired sequence, one switch being opened and closed twice for each opening and closing of the 6 a y' Y v vawww a rotatable cam shaft having a air of cams therein, switches operated by t e cams, one switch controlling the display of go signals on the main street and stop signals on an intersecting street and the other cam controlling the stop signals on the main street and the go signals on the intersecting street, 'a third cam on the cam shaft and a switch operated thereby for controllin the operation of an intermediate signal s owing that the signals operated by the pair of cams are 4 about to chan the third cam being (zon-V necte'dto the aft by a lost motion oonnec tion substantially as and for the purpose deis scribed.. '24. In a timing switch, vthe combination volf a rotatable camshaft having a pair of y 'camsthereim switches o erated by the cams, one switch controlling-t e display of go sigzo' nals on the main street and stop signals `on an intersecting street and the other cam con-l trolling the stop signals on the main street and the go signals on the intersecting street, a third cam on the cam shaft and a switch operated thereby for controllingl the operation of an intermediate signal s owing that the signals operated by the pair of cams are about to chan e, the third cam being connected to the s aft by a lost motion connection substantially as and yfor the purpose ldescribed, and means for varying the amountI of lost motion of said connection substantially 'e as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto si ed my name at Syracuse, in the county o Onondaga and State of New York, this 1st day of July, 1926. 4

` CARL H. BISSELL. 

